Expensive, but worth it
I purchased a freestanding 3 kayak rack. In my opinion, it was expensive, but worth it. I would buy it again. My way of looking at it, something can be expensive, but still worth it.
No thanks
I’ve said enough. You guys do what you wish. I’m pretty much going to bow out of this now unless It’s worth it because you already know how I feel as I added more detail to my original post above yesterday. I’ve wasted way too much time dealing w/ you guys in the first place to boot.
If you agree, great, if you don’t, whatever, it couldn’t affect me any less. What a big deal, a person has some emotion in a paddling forum thread. At least I came back to provide details. I could have deleted the post in the first place, but left it to show how bummed I am over this product. I’m from NY man, got some attitude for ya. It’s not like this is a snickers bar that tasted like crap cuz it was old, it’s a $250 rack man. I must have higher standards.
You know, this thread will fall to the end of the pile of garbage once you guys stop bantering about it in a day or two anyway… You might as well debate it for a while though. The guys at Talic will love the press, and I can’t blame them for it. 
Positive feedback
No flaming from me – but a comment:
In my humble opinion your “SCREAMING” approach at the forum was over the top. ‘Nuff said on that.
One poster to your thread inferred that there have been several positive reviews of this product. Actually there have been no reviews of this particular product at p.net at all – at least that I could see under the “Boat Storage” category. The Talic Condo model, which attaches to a wall has been reviewed. The Double Bunk, which is free-standing has not been reviewed. The Condo uses the wall you attach it to for lateral support. The Double Bunk has no lateral support of any sort. To my eye it’s not a sturdy design, I wouldn’t buy one – certainly not at that price.
Anyway…
Like it or not that boat rack is yours now and you feel this unit is not sturdy and is not well designed. Well, you already spent the money so you might as well fix it up so it’ll serve your purpose.
Here are my suggestions:
1.) To address the sturdiness issue: You could attach an “X” brace to the back of the assembly to stiffen it up. A couple of inexpensive narrow boards cut and fitted could be held in place with wood screws (from the back – wouldn’t show). The braces would form triangles which don’t distort – it would then have some lateral support. This could all be done with hand tools. Stain/varnish to match.
2.) As to the little dowels that hold the webbing in place which keep loosening up - do away with them. All you have to do is hold some strapping in place, you could do that with upholstery tacks or staples. Put the tacks where they won’t scratch your boats.
3.) The screw and nut issues you brought up are resolved at this point since it’s already assembled.
My two cents - RK
I’ve had my Talic rack…
for about 7 years now (the big one that holds 6 kayaks) and my only complaint is the glue they use to bond the “outer arm” to the “arm” (sorry, I have no better way to describe it!). Whatever glue they use is NOT waterproof! So far, maybe a half dozen have disattached…no big problem, I just reglue them with waterproof glue. But it does make you wonder…kayaks, water, they do sometimes get together! My boats always get rinsed off right before I put them onto the rack, and it’s often impractical to wait for them to dry completely. Maybe they changed to a waterproof glue since I purchased mine…it certainly wouldn’t cost that much more.
Tony
they are fine racks
People are just so unreasonble, what a kook,
I have several sets of the talics and they are just fine
Glue joints
The glue we used 6 or 7 years ago is different than the glue we use today. The glue we use now is much stronger and very waterproof. When we started this business in 1999 we used white glue and soon found out that it was not the right kind of glue for the job. We came across something that works much better and have had no complaints about failing joints ever since. If you are having problems with some of your brackets send them back to us and we’d be happy to fix them for you.
Talic Condo
I have the Talic 3 tier condo and love it.
My friend’s admire the quality and tell me to take it out of the cellar and put it in my living room. I store 3, 17’ to 19’ ocean kayaks on it. Nothing but Happy here…
this thread
is like Jack Nicholson in The Shining!
“I’m back”
I don’t own one
but it looks like a decent rack. I’ve been thinking of building my own or to save time buy one and assemble. After reading all the positive responses I do think the majority of users like it and are pleased with it. Sounds like Hudson just had problems reading the assembly instructions and isn’t mechanically inclind enough to modify it to really suit his wants/needs.